Ball bearing distributor plate



y 12, 1955 L. L. BRUNK BALL BEARING DISTRIBUTOR PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 50. 1953 INVENTOR.

m U S R a B R L. o E n U A s E 7 Y B FIG-2 July 12, 1955 L. L. BRUNK2,713,096

BALL BEARING DISTRIBUTOR PLATE Filed June 30, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

LESLIE L.BRUNK c 7844171101116 loumun,

ATTORNEYS nitd 2,723,696 Patented July 12, 1955 bike BALL BEARKNGDISTRIBUTOR PLATE Application June 30, 1953, Serial No. 365,4?33

5 Claims. (Cl. 200-31) This invention relates to distributor plates forinternal combustion engines, and particularly to such a distributorplate adapted for being angularly adjusted in response to variations inthe manifold vacuum of the engine.

Distributor plates of the nature referred to carry the breaker pointswhich are in series with the primary coil of the ignition spark coil anda cam adjacent the distributor plate, usually extending through acentral aperture thereof, rotates with the engine to cause periodicopening and closing of the breaker points.

In internal combustion engines, an important factor in maintaining theengine in proper and efficient operating condition is the control of thetiming thereof, in particular, variation of the instant of sparking ofthe spark plug for each cylinder, so that it occurs at the proper timewith reference to the speed of the engine and the load thereon.

Ordinarily, the speed of the engine is detected by governor means thatoperate to advance the cam of the distributor mechanism so as to advancethe spark as the engine speeds up, while the load on the engine and, toa certain extent, the speed thereof, is determined by detecting theintake manifold vacuum and utilizing this vacuum by way of a flexiblediaphragm or the like to move the distributor plate in such a directionthat for higher manifold vacuums the distributor moves to advance thespark.

In at least one type of distributor mechanism the cam is rigidlyconnected for rotation with the engine cam shaft and the entire controlof the advancing and retarding of the spark is accomplished by movementof the distributor plate in response to changes in intake manifoldvacuum.

In either case, the best and most efficient engine results will only beobtained when the distributor plate follows the changes in intakemanifold very closely and does not flutter or move relative to the axisof the distributor cam except in a purely rotary path.

in connection with the distributor mechanisms wherein the entire controlof the timing is by way of a vacuum control of the rotated position ofthe distributor plate, it becomes extremely important for the plate tobe firmly supported for such rotary movement, so that during adjustmentof the distributor plate by changes in manifold vacuum, the only factorin the ignition system that varies will be the time that the breakerpoints of the system are interrupted by the distributor cam.

This invention, similarly to my copending application, Serial No.315,040, filed October 16, 1952, contemplates supporting the distributorplate on a precision ball bearing, one race of which is fixed to themovable portion of the distributor plate, and the other race of which isfixedly mounted within the distributor housing of the ignition system.With such an arrangement, utilizing precision ball bearings in order toobtain the most accurate and precise locating of the distributor plateand the most accurate possible guiding thereof during its rotarymovement, it is highly important to prevent dirt and other foreignmatter from getting into the spaces between the races of the ballbearing. Such foreign matter and dirt could impede the movement of themovable portion of the distributor plate assembly, whereby it could notrespond with the necessary precision to changes in the intake manifoldvacuum, thus leading to faulty operation, and can also induce wear ofthe ball bearing, thereby permitting flutter and improper guiding of themovable portion of the distributor plate, and which also will lead tofaulty and inefiicient engine operation.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is a particular object of the presentinvention to provide an improved distributor plate assembly for beingreceived in the distributor housing of an automotive engine ignitionsystem which will provide for extremely accurate and substantiallyfriction-free rotation support of the portion of the distributor platewhich carries the breaker points of the distributor system.

A still further object is the provision of a ball bearing distributorplate especially adapted for being readily incorporated within thedistributor housing of an automotive engine ignition system with thedistributor plate accurately and permanently located therein.

A still further object is the provision of a ball bearing support for adistributor plate mechanism referred to in which the ball bearing of thesupport is protected and shielded against the ingress of any dirt orforeign material, thus promoting long and efficient life of the hearing.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a ballbearing plate of the nature referred to which is inexpensive toconstruct and which can readily be incorporated in a conventionaldistributor housing of the proper type with no change thereof.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a ballbearing type distributor plate serving as a replacement for theconventional distributor plate in the housing of a distributor, andwhich replacement plate comprises dual points so arranged as to increasethe dwell period, thereby leading to better sparking conditions of theignition system, particularly at high speeds of engine operation.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an ignition distributor housing havingmounted therein a distributor plate according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, indicated by line 2-2on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn at enlarged scale showingthe manner in which two of the principal parts of the distributor plateassembly are secured together;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the distributor plateassembly of the present invention without the breaker points mountedthereon, but showing the bushing and snap ring forming a part of theconventional distributor; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the distributorplate of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, in Figures 1 and 2there is illustrated at it the body portion of the housing of anignition distributor with the cover thereof removed and also with thecam and cam shaft thereof removed, but with the cam illustrated indot-dash outline at 12 in Figure 1.

Secured to the housing 10 is a vacuum unit 14 adapted for connection at36 with a tube leading to a suitable point on the intake manifold of theengine. Within the 3 vacuum unit 14 is a diaphragm from which leads arod 18 into the interior of housing 10. The diaphragm within vacuum unit14 is adapted for flexing leftwardly as the vacuum therein increases,thus moving rod 18 leftwardly, all as viewed in Figure 1.

The ignition housing illustrated in the drawings is characterized byhaving a central bushing member 2i pressed into a bore 22 on the axis ofthe distributor housing, and which bushing has an internal bore 24 whichguides the shaft carrying cam 12. In the conventional arrangement, theouter surface of bushing 2b where it extends into the recess 26 of thehousing it? is availed of for providing support for the distributorplate of the ignition system. In the conventional arrangement, thedistributor plate comprises a central sleeve part fitting relativelyloosely about bushing 29 and retained thereon by snap ring 23. Such anarrangement provides a rotatable support for the distributor plate, andlikewise locates the distributor plate axially within recess 26.

However, such a support is necessarily somewhat loose because withoutplay between the sleeve on the distributor plate and the bushing 20 andbetween the opposite ends of the sleeve and the snap ring 28 and thebottom wall of recess 26, the distributor plate would not be free toturn, and, therefore, could not respond to changes in vacuum in thevacuum unit 14. Such a distributor plate support is thus objectionableto a degree, becase it permits movement of the distributor plate in thehousing in a path other than purely rotary, thus introducinginaccuracies in the timing that will cause im- F1} proper andinefficient engine operation.

According to the present invention, a ball bearing is provided having aninner race 3% which is a press fit over bushing 20, and which extendsfrom the bottom wall of recess 26 up to snap ring 28. of the ballbearing when thus mounted in position on bushing 20 is positively andpermanently located relative to the axis of bore 24 and therefore of cam12, and, inasmuch as the race 30 does not turn on bushing 26, thisaccuracy of rotation is not lost through wear between the race andbushing.

The ball bearing also comprises an outer race 32, and between the races39 and 32 are a series of balls 34 fitting in grooves in the races. Theball bearing is of a precision type and the balls 34 so support outerrace 32 on inner race 39 that the outer race can have only rotarymovement relative the inner race and is held thereon against axial,radial, or tilting movements relative thereto.

Since inner race Si) is fixedly mounted relative to the axis of rotationof cam 12, as previously mentioned, it will be readily perceived thatouter race 32 is held in all of its rotative positions in a fixedposition radially and axially of the said axis of rotation of cam 12.

Resting on top of outer race 32 is the distributor plate proper 36 and acup or retainer member 38 is provided closely embracing outer race 32and having fingers or tabs 49 extending upwardly through apertures 42 inplate 35 and bent over so as firmly and rigidly to interconnect cup 3%,plate 36, and the ball bearing outer race 32.

The distributor plate 36 is adapted for adjustably mounting a pair ofconventional breaker point assemblies 44 which are connected in parallelby the connector id and which are also connected by the wire 48 With thelead-in terminal 5? of the distributor housing, and which terminal islikewise connected with the wire 52 leading to condenser 54 which, dueto the dual points on the breaker points, must be mounted externally ofthe distributor housing, as by availing of one of the screws 56 thatsecure the vacuum unit 14 to the said housing.

The distributor housing has mounted therein a pair of fixed posts 58,and tension springs 69 are connected between these posts and theadjustable anchor studs 62. on the distributor plate. This arrangementof the springs 61 provides means for readily varying the response of thedis- Inner race 30 I 4 tributor plate to changes in vacuum in the vacuumunit 14, while the ball bearing support of the plate insures that theplate will perform in accordance with the setting of the adjustablestuds 62.

inasmuch as it is highly important to seal the space between the races35 and 32 from the entrance of foreign matter, the ball bearing innerrace 3% is of such a length that it extends through distributor plate 36by way of aperture 6? in the said plate, which has a relatively closeiit about race 33. Ball bearing inner race also extends vardly through arelatively closely fitting aperture 1.1 the bottom of the cup orretainer member 3-5, and in this manner the space between the races ofthe ball bearing is substantially completely sealed against the entranceof any foreign matter thereto, thus insuring long and friction-free lifeof the hearing.

it will be evident that, while the arrangement illustrated is the one tobe preferred, the ball bearing inner race could, nevertheless, be madesomewhat shorter, and in which case, the provision of suitable collarsabout bush- Zi either below or above the inner ball bearing race or onboth sides thereof would provide for fixed axial locating of the ballbearing, and, therefore, of the dis tributor plate on bushing 29, Whilestill providing the important sealing of the ball bearing in the mannerreferred to. The longer ball bearing inner race is to be preferredbecause it will better locatethe ball bearing on bushing 29.

it Will be evident also that, conceivably, the function of bearingretainer 33 as to the fixing of the distributor plate to the ballbearing and the eifective sealing of the ball bearing, could beefiectively duplicated by tabs struck out from plate as and shaped aboutouter race 38, with disks or washers being provided for closing thespaces between the races. It Will thus be understood that While thearrangement illustrated and described is the preferred arrangement,there are other possible constructions whereby the important advantagesof a ball bearing support for the distributor plate which will hold itfirmly against radial, axial, and tilting movement, while permittingunimpeded rotary movement thereof, and, at the same time, sealing theball bearing support against foreign matter, all in an inexpensive andeasily manufactured design, could be obtained.

it will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

claim:

1. in combination with a distributor housing for the ignition system ofan internal combustion engine, said housing having a recess therein toreceive the distributor plate of the system and having a bushingupstanding from the center of the recess for journaling the cam shaft ofthe ignition system, a distributor plate in the recess for mounting thedistributor points of the ignition system and having a central aperturecoaxial with said bushing, a ball bearing having inner and outer racesand balls therebetween beneath said plate having its outer race fixedlyconnected to the underside of said plate, the inner race of said ballbearing being substantially longer than said outer race and being pressfitted over said bushing and engaging the bottom wall of said recessabout said bushing, the upper end of said inner race extending throughthe aperrare in said plate and terminating adjacent the upper end ofsaid bushing, and a snap ring on the upper end of said bushing engagingthe upper end of said inner race.

2. in combination with a distributor housing for the ignition system ofinternal combustion engine, said housing having a recess therein toreceive the distributor plate of the system and having a bushingupstanding from the center of the recess for journaling the cam shaft ofthe ignition system, a distributor plate in the recess for mounting thedistributor points of the ignition system and having a central aperturecoaxial with said bushing,

a ball bearing having inner and outer races and balls therebetweenbeneath said plate having its outer race fixedly connected to theunderside of said plate, the inner race of said ball bearing beingsubstantially longer than said outer race and being press fitted oversaid bushing and engaging the bottom wall of said recess about saidbushing, the upper end of said inner race extending through the aperturein said plate and terminating adjacent the upper end of said bushing,and a snap ring on the upper end of said bushing engaging the upper endof said inner race, and means fixedly connecting said outer race to theunderside of said piate.

3. In combination with a distributor housing for the ignition system andinternal combustion engine, said housing having a recess therein toreceive the distributor plate of the system and having a bushingupstanding from the center of the recess for journaliing the cam shaftof the ignition system, a distributor plate in the recess for mountingthe distributor points of the ignition system and having a centralaperture co-axial with said bushing, a ball bearing having inner andouter races and balls therebetween beneath said plate having its outerrace fixedly connected to the under side of said plate, the inner racesof said ball bearing being mount- E ed over said bushing, the upper endof said inner race extending through the aperture of the plate andterminating adjacent the upper end of said bushing, and means on saidbushing engaging the upper end of said bushing for preventing axialmovement of said inner race on said bushing.

4. In a combination as claimed in claim 3 with means fixedly connectingsaid outer race to the under side of said plate.

5. In a combination as claimed in claim 2 with said connecting meanscomprising a cup-like member embracing the outer race and having fingersextending through the aperture inside the plate and bent over to affixthe cup-like member to the plate, and said cup member at the bottomextending inwardly over said outer race to a position of proximity withsaid inner race.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,202,077 Arthur May 28, 1940 2,617,899 Brunk NOV. 11, 1952 2,660,630Henrichs Nov. 24, 1953 2,685,622 Raballo et al. Aug. 3, 1954

